English actress and Bond 23 prospect Naomie Harris
says the 'classic' Bond Girl character is a thing
of the past...

Naomie Harris On Bond Girls

24th June 2011

From tabloid rumour to official confirmation, the news of Naomie
Harris auditioning for a role in the 23rd
James Bond film moved
at break-neck pace earlier this month. The 34 year-old London
born actress, best known to moviegoers for her role as Tia
Dalma in two "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies after
making her breakthrough in the Danny Boyle dystopian horror "28
Days Later", has given several interviews to the media this
week to promote her new film "The First Grader".

In a wide-ranging interview with the Coventry
Telegraph, Harris talked about how the 'Bond Girl'
role has changed in recent years, and how she does not
feel she would be suitable for the classic interpretation.

"I've
never played a beautiful vacuous woman. I don't think
I'd be very good at it. So if that was the role, it wouldn't
appeal," she said.

"But I just don't think
Bond would be interested in a woman like that now. The
new Bond has to be intellectually stimulated by whoever
he's having his dalliances with," she says, giggling.

"What makes Bond films work is that
they're responsive to the times. Eva
Green's character
in Casino Royale was
not scantily clad. She was an intelligent, strong, modern
woman."

"The older idea of the Bond movie is in
the past. Now it appeals to all generations, ages and sexes."

Above: Naomie Harris

Harris confirmed that she read scenes from "Quantum
of Solace"
for Bond 23 director Sam Mendes and long-serving casting director
Debbie McWilliams. "I've been the biggest fan of Bond
for the longest time. I love the Bond movies. My whole family
loves it and they'd be so proud of me," she added.